The production of biodiesel from sewage sludge via soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether and transesterification reaction

Abstract

The Lipid/oil was extracted from reduced dried primary sewage sludge particle via soxhlet extraction method with petroleum ether as solvent. The extracted oil gave 19.15% percentage yield with density of 0.992g/ml, pH value of 10.85, specific gravity of 0.992, viscosity of 41.05mm2/s, kinematic viscosity of 41.38mm2/s. The lipid/oil was brownish black in colour with a pungent smell. The chemical analyses revealed saponification value of 115.95mgKOH/g, acid value of 4.10mgKOH/g and free fatty acid value of 2.05%. The physicochemical analyses of the biodiesel produced revealed percentage yield of 70% biodiesel, density of 0.880Kg/ml, pH value of 7.99, specific gravity of 0.88, viscosity of 4.9mm2/s, kinematic viscosity of 5.6mm2/s, acid value of 0.47mg KOH/g, flash point of 160oC, cetane number of 50.7min and copper strip corrosion of No. 1a, sulfated ash of 0.019% mass, cloud point of 10oC and pour point of -4oC, indicative of a promising source of biodiesel.